Cusco and Salkantay Explorer 6 days

Cusco and Salkantay Explorer 6 days

The best alternative route to Machu Picchu is Salkantay Trek; Salkantay is the name of the snow mountain (6371m) located in the south of Machu Picchu; and we offer you to enjoy the trail beside this splendid snow mountain where we will see how ecosystems transform rapidly from the variance of environmental factors (sun, water, temperature, soil, etc). This is a very special trip because at the end we will visit the lost city of the Incas – MACHU PICCHU.

The mountain of Salcantay is located less than fifty miles northwest of the city of Cusco in south central Peru by the Cordillera Vilcabamba and rising to 6271 meters above sea level (20574 ft) Mt. Salkantay is an outstanding glacier-capped summit worshipped for thousands of years by local Indians. The name Salkantay is a quechua word meaning "Savage Mountain".

INCLUDES

• Transfers In / Out
• Transportation Cusco - Mollepata. (Start walking)
• Professional bilingual tour guide English /Spanish.
• Assistant tour guide (for groups of 9 or more people)
• Entrance Fee to Machu Picchu.
• 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 afternoon snacks, 4 dinners. ” Vegetarian (vegan) food on request at no extra cost!
• Cook. (Professional)
• Drinking water along the Inka trail, only on meal times.
• Dining tent with tables and chairs
• 1st Aid Kit
• 01 Oxygen Ball
• Horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)
• Horse men
• Quadruple & waterproof Camping tent “02 people only”
• 01 Sleeping Mattress per person
• 01 night in touristic hostel in Aguas Calientes “Machupicchu Village”.
• Return train tickets in Expedition Service (Machupicchu - Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco) transfer to Hotel.

NOT INCLUDES

• 1st Breakfast, Last Lunch
• Extra Porters or Horses for carry persona staff (Optional US$ 80.00 per 4 days)
• Other not mentioned

View complete details of tour at Cusco and Salkantay Explorer 6 days

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days

Classic Inca Trail Tour to Machupicchu 4 Days

Today the Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - which, as part of the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, has been designated a World Heritage natural and cultural site is the most important and most popular hiking trail in South America, followed by many thousands of ecotourists and modern-day pilgrims in the past 3 decades. Its extreme popularity in recent years -- more than 75,000 people a year hike the famous trail -- has led to concerns among environmentalists and historians that the trail is suffering potentially irreparable degradation.

The National Institute of Culture (INC) and the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Integration, and International Trade (MITINCI), reacting to pressure from groups such as UNESCO (which threatened to rescind Machu Picchu's World Heritage Site status), instituted far-reaching changes in practices designed to limit the number of visitors and damage to Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail, though these alone may not be enough to forestall the trail's damage.

Preparing with us your Inca Trail Experience

The Classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 days route is along hand-hewn stone stairs and trails through sumptuous mountain scenery and amazing cloud forest, past rushing rivers and dozens of Inca ruins. The zone is inhabited by rare orchids, 419 species of birds, and even the indigenous spectacled bear. The trek begins at Qorihuayrachina near Ollantaytambo -- more easily described as Km 88 of the railway from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. The 43km (26-mile) route passes three formidable mountain passes, including the punishing "Dead Woman's Pass", to a maximum altitude of 4,200m (13,800 ft.). Most groups enter the ruins of Machu Picchu at sunrise on the fourth day, although others, whose members are less keen on rising at 3:30am to do it, trickle in throughout the morning.

INCLUDES

• Transfers In / Out
• Transportation Cusco - KM 82 “Piscacucho”. (Start walking)
• Professional bilingual tour guide English /Spanish.
• Assistant tour guide (for groups of 9 or more people)
• Entrance Fee to Machu Picchu.
• 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 afternoon snacks, 3 dinners. ” Vegetarian (vegan) food on request at no extra cost!
• Cook. (Professional)
• Drinking water along the Inka trail, only on meal times.
• Dining tent with tables and chairs
• 1st Aid Kit
• 01 Oxygen Ball
• Porters (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)
• Quadruple & waterproof Camping tent “02 people only”
• 01 Sleeping Mattress per person “thermal rest”
• 01 Bus ticket Machupicchu Inca City to Aguas Calientes.
• Return train tickets in Expedition Service (Machupicchu - Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco)

View complete details of tour at Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Days

Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 7 days

Salkantay + Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 7 days

Our classic Salkantay Trek is an alternative to the traditional Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The Sacred path is a cutting edge experience for adventure travelers looking for a little more privacy and authenticity. With more spectacular views, the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu offer a quiet and rich contemplation of Nature.

INCLUDES

• Transfers In / Out
• Transportation Cusco - Mollepata. (Start walking)
• Professional bilingual tour guide English /Spanish.
• Assistant tour guide (for groups of 9 or more people)
• Entrance Fee to Machu Picchu.
• 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 afternoon snacks, 6 dinners. Vegetarian (vegan) food on request at no extra cost!
• Cook. (Professional)
• Drinking water along the Inka trail, only on meal times.
• Dining tent with tables and chairs
• 1st Aid Kit
• 01 Oxygen Ball
• Horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)
• Horse men
• Porters (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)
• Quadruple & waterproof Camping tent “02 people only”
• 01 Sleeping Mattress per person
• Return train tickets in Expedition Service (Machupicchu - Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco) transfer to Hotel.

View complete details of tour at Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 7 days

Frequently Asked Questions about the Salkantay Trek

Frequently Asked Questions about the Salkantay Trek

1. Salkantay Trek

The Salkantay Trail connects Cusco to the Citadel of Machu Picchu and runs approximately 89 km/55 miles through high Andean peaks, cloud forest, and steamy jungle. The hike starts at the village of Mollepata, a few miles from Cusco.

The Salkantay Peak - Savage Mountain - is located within the Vilcabamba mountain range, to the northwest of Cusco. Salkantay is one of the highest and most spectacular mountains in the Andes (6,271m/20,574ft).

National Geographic’s Adventure Travel Magazine named the Salkantay trek among the 25 Best Treks in the World.

2. How far do we walk each day?

The amount you walk each day varies. An average day is 5-8 hours, but on summit night combined with the following day you can walk between 8 and 11 hours. Have a look at the itinerary for a day-to-day account.


View complete information at Salkantay Trek FAQs

Salkantay Trek Advices and Tips

The famous Salkantay Trek (or Salcantay Trek), named among the 25 best Treks in the World, by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine, is a trek open to everybody, with no limitation on spaces or permits (at least for now). Connecting the city of Mollepata, Cusco with Machu Picchu, the Classic Salkantay Trek is an ancient and remote footpath located in the same region as the Inca Trail where massive snowcapped mountains collide with lush tropical rain forests.

Salkantay Trek Tips:

1. No matter what time of year, the trail gets cold at night. Bring a warm sleeping bag and layer your clothes. You will need a good warm sleeping bag. Where possible we recommend you bring your own sleeping bag, however adequate ones can be hired locally (for approx US$25) but we can take no responsibility for the standard. If you are planning to hire a bag it is a good idea to bring a silk sleeping bag liner to use inside for added warmth and comfort. A four season (or -10) bag is recommended for the winter months. At other times you will probably be fine in a 3 season (or -4/-5) bag although this depends on how much you feel the cold and is given as a guideline only. Roll mats are provided on the Salkantay trek to Machupicchu however for greater comfort and warmth, Thermo rest style mattresses can also be hired in Cusco for US$15. If you are travelling in winter and you do not wish to invest in a 4 season bag you may want to consider purchasing a 3 season bag plus a sleeping bag liner and bringing additional clothing.

View the complete Salkantay Trek Tips

Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 2 Days

Preparing with us your Inca Trail Experience

This trek is often known as "the two day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu", "the Sacred Inca Trail to Machu Picchu" or the "Camino Real de los Incas".

The trek starts at Km104 (104 kilometers along the railway from Cusco) and involves a four hour walk uphill to Wiñay Wayna and a couple of hours further to Machu Picchu making it ideal for trekkers wanting to experience at least a part of the Inca Trail but haven't got the time (or energy) to complete the full 4 day trek.

As with the 4 day version of the Inca Trail, regulations introduced in 2002 have prevented individuals from doing the trek solo. The majority of the new regulation sapply for the 2 day trek.

In the past trekkers have always been able to spend the first night of the trek at the basic hostal located at Wiñay Wayna. However due to many complaints about the standard and cleanliness of this hostal the hostal was closed at the end of 2004. This means that trekkers must now continue their trek all the way to Machu Picchu and spend the night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes. Groups then return to Machu Picchu for a guided tour on the second day.

This itinerary is rated moderate and should only be undertaken by people who are fairly fit and take regular exercise. The trek starts at 2100m (KM104) and climbs to 2700m (Wiñay Wayna) before descending to 2400m (Machu Picchu). Since the trek is carried out at a much lower altitude than the Classic 4 day Inca Trail trek you do not need to worry about acclimatization as much, although many people still find themselves short of breath when arriving at Wiñay Wayna so this trek should certainly not be considered an easy option.

Apart from the waterfalls just before Wiñay Wayna there are no other places to refill your water bottle up (purify before drinking). Therefore it is recommended that you start the trek with at least 1.5 litres of water.

INCLUDES:

• Transfers In / Out
• Transportation Cusco - Ollantaytambo train Station.
• Expedition train Service to KM 104 “Chachabamba”. (Start walking)
• Professional bilingual tour guide English / Spanish.
• Assistant tour guide (for groups of 9 or more people)
• Entrance fees to Inka trail.
• Entrance Fee to Machu Picchu.
• 1 breakfast, 1 lunch,1 dinner. ” Vegetarian (vegan) food on request at no extra cost!
• 1st Aid Kit
• 01 Oxygen Ball
• 01 night in touristic hotel in Machu Picchu village
• 01 Bus ticket Machupicchu Inca City to Aguas Calientes.
• Return train tickets in Expedition Service (Machupicchu - Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco)

View complete details of tour at Inca Trail 2 days

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 4 days by Llactapata

Salkantay + Inca Path "Short" to Machu Picchu 4 days

Our trek is an alternative to the traditional Inca Trail. The Sacred path is a cutting edge experience for adventure travelers looking for a little more privacy and authenticity. With more spectacular views, the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu offer a quiet and rich contemplation of Nature.

This express version of the is available for trekkers short on time. You will arrive to Machu Picchu Trek via train from Hidroelectrica. The hardest part is on Day 2 due to our ascending at 4600 m/15090 ft

INCLUDES

• Transfers In / Out
• Transportation Cusco-Mollepata. (Start walking)
• Professional bilingual tour guide English /Spanish.
• Assistant tour guide (for groups of 9 or more people)
• Entrance Fee to Machu Picchu.
• 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 afternoon snacks, 3 dinners. ” Vegetarian (vegan) food on request at no extra cost!
• Cook. (Professional)
• Drinking water along the Inka trail, only on meal times.
• Dining tent with tables and chairs
• 1st Aid Kit
• 01 Oxygen Ball
• Horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment)
• Horse men
• Quadruple & waterproof Camping tent “02 people only”
• 01 Sleeping Mattress per person “therma rest”
• 01 night in touristic hostel in Aguas Calientes “Machupicchu Village”.
• Return train tickets in Expedition Service (Machupicchu.Ollanta and bus to Cusco) transfer to Hotel.

NOT INCLUDES

• 1st Breakfast, Last Lunch
• Extra Porters or Horses for carry persona staff (Optional US$ 80.00 per 4 days)
• Other not mentioned

View complete details of tour at Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu 4 days by Llactapata

Salkantay Trek Meals

OUR MEALS ALONG THE SALKANTAY TREK

With ITEP each day we awake the smell of something fantastic cooking in the chefs tents and it was this smell (and maybe the warm coca tea).

SAMPLE MENU

NOTE: This is only a sample menu for your Salkantay Trek. Exact food selections subject to change

Our breakfast selection included:

• Pancakes with caramel drizzle that represented a series of ancient geoglyphs located in the Nazca lines Desert (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in southern Peru.
• Thick oatmeal with large fresh chunks of sweet apples.
• Andean Chuta Bread (traditional bread baked in colonial ovens)
• Omelets stuffed with peppers, celery, carrots, radishes and cheese

More information at Salkantay Trek Meals

Rules and Regulations of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu

Current Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu Regulations and Procedures

The rules and regulations controlling Machu Picchu are continually changing and it is important to be aware of the issues detailed in this document before embarking on your adventure to Peru.

No more than 400 people per day are allowed to start the Ascend to Huaynapicchu mountain + Machupicchu inca city. This number includes all support staff and is very tightly controlled. Once this limit of 400 people is reached, the Trail is effectively closed off for the day and no further bookings can be made.

Reservations are not held on the inca City and all permits to Huaynapicchu + Machupicchu must be bought as far as possible in advance with complete and correct passport information, to which no modifications can be made. Any attempts at modifications result in a loss of the permit and any money paid.

View complete details at Huayna Picchu Regulations

Salkantay Trek Map

Salkantay Trek Map to Machu Picchu

Salkantay Trek is a great alternative to the Inca Trail. Going this route, you'll be able to visit some of the most beautiful places in the Andean jungle and see the snow covered Salkantay Mountain (altitude is 6372 m). You will have the opportunity to see beautiful landscapes with a variety of endemic flora and fauna and stop by part of the Inca trail, Llactapata, which is an enclosure built on the mountain facing Machu Picchu.

The Classic Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu, the most popular destination in South America!It presents a unique combination of culture, with preserved proudly by the Peruvian people, and is an amazing adventure and extraordinary natural beauty. This walk is set at the highest peaks of Salkantay and Humantay Mountain, where the cold ice of the mountains meets the steamy heat of the Andean jungle.

This route is surrounded by the historic Machu Picchu National Park and is considered one of the 25 best hikes in the world. This trail is very diverse and rich geography hike, Andean culture and history. The Cordillera Vilcanota contains two twenty highest mountains in the Americas.

Salkantay Trek Packing List

Here your packing list, and go over what is helpful, and what is a waste of money and backpack space.

To help our trekkers on the Classic Salkantay Trek.

You need

• Passport ORIGINAL.
• 2 bags, 1 day pack, and 1 large backpack to hold everything else. Your guides will carry up to 5 kilos for you each day, so if you have 2 packs, you can divvy up the weight pretty easily and only keep on you what you need.
• 1 sleeping bag –which you need…hands down, it gets really cold at night, so is recommend a bag that can handle -10 degrees Celsius.
• Hiking boots. When you walk as much as you do on the trek, and go through waterfalls, and up and down mountains, extra support and coverage can really be a lifesaver.
• 5 pairs of underwear, 6 pairs of socks. It is nice to have a couple of extra pairs of socks to change into at night when you’re not trekking. Also, We recommend bringing both really heavy hiking socks, and lighter socks as well. The weather is all over the place, so you want to make sure you’re not too cold or overheating.
• 2 pairs of long underwear, 1 super thick, 1 capeline midweight–which is  perfect
• 2 pairs of pants, 1 hiking, 1 cotton–which is just enough. Please spray both pairs with an insect repellent spray the clothes before the trip.
• 2 t-shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts. Actually you will stay in a hostel  in Machupicchu village and  for sure you will get a long shower, and you will need 01 more t-shirt for your Machupicchu day.
• 1 hoodie, 1 fleece jacket, 1 fleece shirt for layering, 1 vest, this items will be good for a cold person. Other people on the trek definitely will get away with less layers, the layers help.
• 1 rain jacket, 1 warm/winter jacket. The first night the temperature can be as -10 degrees Celsius and the second day you go up close a snow covered mountain, so the big coat is a must. The rain jacket can be helpful, cause there are raining days (even if we are dry season!)
• 1 Cocoon sleeping bag liner. It is super light weight and easy to pack, and definitely does its job.
• Snacks, gum and lozenges–which are needed. The trek is long and we don`t take many breaks. So if you keep a bar or some nuts in your day pack, they will really help you keep going.
• CASH–Few places in Peru accept credit cards, and in the mountains, you’re not going to find an ATM. about 500 soles, and  we would recommend bringing at least that much in case something goes wrong or you need help.
• Travel-sized tissues and wet wipes.The air is cold and damp, so your nose is going to run a lot. Everyone seemed to run out of tissues by the end of the trek. Also, most bathrooms do not have toilet paper (if you even get a bathroom), so wet wipes are key.
• 1 bathing suit–which came in handy. The third and fourth nights are near hot springs, so if you plan to go, bring one. A lot of people bring towels, but you don’t need them. You can rent towels at the hostel or hot springs for 1 or 2 soles, which frees up a lot of backpack space.
• 1 pair of flip flops–which are nice, you can wear them to the hot springs, and in the shower at the hostel.
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.–which you need, but pack light. You’re going to be filthy and gross, so you don’t need shampoo and soap and all of that. Pack the day to day minimum.
• Bug spray with 30% DEET in it–which you need, but it doesn’t work very well. The issue with Salkantay is that most of the bugs are not mosquitoes. They are these small flies you can’t even see that leave weird bites that first look like you pricked your finger, and then blow up into itchy red bumps. Unfortunately, these bugs seem to bite you no matter what kind of spray you put on.
• A head lamp–which is useful. If you don’t have one, at least bring a small flashlight.
• A camera... no explanation needed!
• Iron tablets and pills for altitude sickness. Several people on the trek have varying degrees of altitude sickness, and both of these remedies (in addition to the  coca tea) are very helpful in alleviating the symptoms.
• A watch with an alarm. You don’t need it, but there are a lot of early morning wake up calls, and on the last day to get to Machu Picchu, you need to wake up on your own. Also, the guide talks time a lot (meet at 6, dinner at 7, etc.) so a watch would be nice to have.
• Sun screen, there are days where the sun gets really hot.
• Imodium AD or something for your stomach. Some people get an upset stomach at one on the trek, with 8-10 hours of hiking each day, you need to get over whatever the day throws at you quickly, so bring some meds.

Salkantay Trek Distances and Altitudes

Salkantay Trek Distances and Altitudes

The Salkantay trek passes through stunning landscapes varying from the cloud forest to the high mountains. Along the way you will see the fantastic views of second highest mountain in the Cusco area - Salkantay ("Savage mountain" from Quechua) standing at 20,574' (6,271 m).

This trek to Machu Picchu goes through unfrequented areas and combines culture and tradition with the incredible flora and fauna offered by Peru. You will be in the real Andes and the perfect conditions to get a sense of the life in the area.

Salkantay Trek Distances

• Soraypampa to Salkantay Pass : 7 km (4.5 Miles)
• Salkantaypampa to Salkantay Pass : 4 km (2.5 Miles)
• Salkantay Pass to Wayracmachay : 7 km (4.5 miles)
• Salkantay Pass to Chaullay / Colpapampa : 16 km (10 miles)

The standard route on the mountain is the Northeast ridge. Accessing the route typically involves three days of travel from Cusco. The climb involves about 1,800 m (5,900 ft) of vertical gain, on glacier, snow, ice, and some rock.

View complete details at Salkantay Trek distance and altitude

Inti Raymi and Machu Picchu 5 days

Festival Inti Raymi and Machu Picchu

5 days / 4 nights

Included: Machupicchu Sunrise and the Sun Festival "Inti Raymi".

Departures: Guests arriving in Cusco on 21st – 22nd – 23rd or June 24th (The schedule of the tour can varies according to the date of arrival of guests. We visit all the attractions showed below).
Exceptional program of Cusco and its Festivals.

With this program you will have the opportunity to discover the famous annual Festival of the Sun "Inti Raymi" held on June 24th. We also give you an overnight in Machupicchu village to appreciate the sunrise over Machu Picchu Inca City.

Cusco holds many different festivals full of artistic expressions. It is important for the Cusqueñan to nourish themselves from their profound origin, projecting an alliance with nature and the mother earth or Pachamama through their festivities full of rhythms and colors. A way for them to reinforce their commitment to life, extending it with their hospitality to the visitors.

Cusco bieng the capital of TahuanTinsuyo, the Inka´s Country, the center of the Empire of the four regions and the "navel of the Inka world." One of the most outstanding Empire in the history of humanity. The Incas, within less than one hundred years, expended their territory from its northern borders of Quito, in Ecuador, to the far south of Santiago, Chile and as far as Argentina. Cusco is one of the most incredible city in America.

View complete details of tour in Festival of Inti Raymi and Machu Picchu in 5 days